Now Recruiting for 2022 REU

NSF Division of Materials Research (DMR) supported Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) site at the University of Alabama at Birmingham is inviting applications for the Summer 2022. REU-projects may include, but not be limited to, in five research clusters:   (1) computational materials research/machine learning (2) materials under extreme conditions (3) materials for energy applications, (4) materials for sensors and laser applications, and (5) biomaterials for implants, tissue engineering and drug delivery applications. This REU experience will be offered as an in person research model as well as a hybrid model which will include fully remote participation for computational research projects and partly remote and partly on ground lab experiences for experimental research projects (depending on the research project).

The undergraduates will carry out the analysis of data generated in their research projects and make presentations on completed research to faculty mentors and other undergraduates participating in this program. All participants are required to participate a campus-wide expo at the end of the program.

The program will offer 10-weeks flexible summer program during May 22, 2022 – July 29, 2022. The program will pay $6,000 over the entire 10-week period involving 400 hours of research with a faculty mentor at UAB (based on a 40 hour work week).

PLEASE SHARE WITH UNDERGRADUATES.
 
For program information contact Program Director Yogesh Vohra (ykvohra@uab.edu) and for application questions contact Program Coordinator Charita Cadenhead (charita@uab.edu).

The application deadline is April 1, 2022.  Learn more at https://sites.uab.edu/cnmb/research-experiences-for-undergraduates/   and apply here:  https://sites.uab.edu/cnmb/research-experiences-for-undergraduates/application-process/

2021 REU Audrey Collins Presents at APS Gaseous Electonics Conference

Written by Audrey Collins

Thanks to the University of Alabama at Birmingham Summer REU program, I was able to present my research at the 2021 APS Gaseous Electronics Conference. It was an amazing opportunity to learn more about my research and about the subject of plasma physics in general.

Due to a significant spike in COVID-19 cases in Alabama, experts advised that holding the conference digitally, rather than in person, would be the safest option for all participants. This was my first academic conference, and despite the fact that it was virtual, I felt the same levels of pressure and excitement as if it had been held in person. Some aspects of a virtual conference were more advantageous, such as the option to watch sessions on demand, which allowed me to watch more of the conference than I would have been able to if the conference had been conducted in person.

After watching a few speakers, I was intimidated to be in the midst of so many amazing minds, and I was apprehensive about how my presentation would compare to theirs. I had to reassure myself that I was just as deserving of being there as they were, and that I shouldn’t compare myself to them.

A Zoom meeting titled “Women in Science” was one of the live events I attended. Several successful female scientists moderated the event, sharing their experiences as women in a male-dominated profession. I appreciated attending this conference as it was educational and refreshing to hear from women who had had similar experiences to myself and how they overcame gender bias. The fact that the number of women in science is increasing every day and that the field of science is changing to become more inclusive and tolerant left me feeling encouraged after the conference to continue with my studies and research in science.

I was able to present my findings at my live poster session with ease and confidence thanks to extensive preparation with Dr. Renato Camata, my research mentor throughout the summer REU program, as well as with our research group. My experience at the Gaseous Electronics Conference gave me the confidence to present scientific findings in front of other professionals, and it served as good practice for larger conference presentations that I may participate in in the future.

NASA REU Keston Smith

Congratulations to Keston Smith

Keston has been selected for the Fall 2021-2022 NASA REU Program. His Project Title: Microfabrication and Calibration of Tungsten and Tungsten-Rhenium Thin-Film Thermocouple on a Diamond Substrate

Best wishes Keston on a successful research experience.

2021-22 ASGC REUMajor: Physics
Classification: Senior
Mentor: Gopi Samudrala

Video Lecture by Yogesh K Vohra PhD

Dr. Yogesh K. Vohra is a Fellow of the International Association of Advanced Materials (FIAAM) in recognition for his contribution to “Advancement of Materials to Global Excellence.”

Click image below to view video lecture titled Microwave Plasma Chemical Vapor Deposition of Diamond and Novel Superhard Materials.

Dr. Yogesh K Vohra presents a video lecture on Microwave Plasma Chemical Vapor Deposition of Diamond and Novel Superhard Materials

 

New Advanced Materials Characterization Institutional Core

Dr. Paul Baker
Dr. Paul Baker, Director

The Advanced Materials Characterization (AMC) Core has been selected an institutional research core (Director: Dr. Paul Baker and co-Director: Dr. Vinoy Thomas). It will be a part of the fifteen cores that are supported centrally by the office of Vice President for Research. The AMC Core will provide a broad range of services related to the research and development of materials. Our services will cover the analysis of basic properties of materials such as the structure, composition, and hardness. The types of materials to be analyzed include biomaterials, nanomaterials, metals, ceramics, thin films, composite materials, and semiconductors.

Dr. Vinoy Thomas
Dr. Vinoy Thomas, Co-Director

The AMC Core will include the University’s only scanning electron microscope (SEM), which provides high resolution images of surfaces of a broad range of materials, including soft matter (biological samples) and has elemental analysis capability (EDX). The x-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS) is a powerful surface analysis (probing depth of only 3-10nm) instrument that provides elemental composition and chemical bonding information with small spot size (minimum 10 micrometers) and surface mapping capability. The multipurpose X-ray diffractometer (XRD) is a state-of-the-art instrument purchased in 2018 that provides information on crystal structure and phase identification, particle size and shape analysis (SAXS), thin film analysis, epitaxial layer analysis, and can be upgraded to include even additional capabilities. The micro-Raman spectrometer is a high-resolution spectrometer that analyzes the vibrational modes of the material to provide information about the molecular structure of a material. The nanoindenter measures the hardness of a material near the surface and can measure polymers and thin films. These materials growth and characterization facilities are being combined and proposed as a single core to provide materials characterization under one managed facility and serve as a catalyst for innovative materials discovery at UAB. One of the key strengths of the core will be the broad support from industry usage as well as the multi-departmental use. This multi-disciplinary approach to characterization of advanced materials is a part of the UAB research mission.

 

Congratulations to Our 2020-21 NASA REU Participants

2020-21 NASA REU – Hybrid Model

In spite of not being able to have a Summer 2020 REU due to COVID-19, NASA REU is moving forward for 2020-21 with REU for a 10 week period beginning October 1, 2020.The following UAB students have been selected to participate in this fascinating hybrid REU model.  We want to recognize and congratulate them.


Rachel Day is a UAB Junior
Major: Physics
Mentor: Dr. Andrei Stanishevsky, Physics

Hannah Blansett is a Junior at UAB
Major: Materials Science & Engineering
Mentor: Dr. Vinoy Thomas, Material Sciences and Engineering

Brita is a UAB Senior
Major: Physics
Mentor: Dr. Cheng-Chien, Physics
Ishmael James
Ishmael is a Senior at UAB
Major: Physics
Mentor: Dr. Ryoichi Kawai, Physics